Bulawayo health time bomb looms

A growing public health risk is emerging in several Bulawayo suburbs as many public toilets remain non-functional, creating breeding grounds for flies and raising fears of disease outbreaks, according to recent Bulawayo City Council minutes.

During a full council meeting, councillor Muziwakibo Masuku highlighted the dire situation at shopping centres in high-density areas. "A lot of flies are breeding in these areas. Does council have any strategy to repair the toilets?" he asked, citing Malaba and Masunda shopping centres in Ward 12 and noting that Njube had no public toilets.

Councillor Greater Gumede added that the public toilets at Maplanka shopping centre in Ward 16 had been out of service for an extended period. She questioned why repairs had not yet been undertaken, despite the 2025 council budget having been approved.

Councillor Tavengwe Zidya also raised concerns about failing water and sanitation infrastructure. He noted a broken pipe along 15th Avenue, where commuter omnibus crews had turned the area into an illegal car wash, and an illegal truck stop had been established. These areas have attracted unregulated food vendors.

Minutes from the council meeting indicate that some vendors are selling cooked food from car boots and containers without proper inspections. Open-air vending of meat and dairy products, in particular, poses a high risk of food poisoning.

"After hours, there are a lot of illegal vendors in the CBD selling meat and dairy products. These products need to be refrigerated. Selling of such products can lead to food poisoning," the minutes read. Councillor Adrian Moyo urged residents to avoid purchasing meat and dairy from street vendors, emphasizing that tracing the source of contamination in case of an outbreak would be difficult.

Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo supported stricter enforcement of food control by-laws and called for the closure of illegal food-preparation facilities.

In response to the concerns, the council resolved to establish a Health, Housing, and Education Committee tasked with enforcing restrictions on illegal food vending and ensuring the proper maintenance and functionality of public toilets across the city.

The initiative aims to safeguard public health, curb the spread of disease, and improve sanitation standards in Bulawayo's high-density and commercial areas.